Board of Directors
Our Directors are drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds, and have in common the passion, skills, knowledge, and experience to provide the business with strategic direction. A love, or even knowledge of, cricket is not essential but the having Directors with the right balance of skills, independence and diversity to meet the needs of the communities we work in, contributes to the success of Lincolnshire Cricket.
Our Directors work with the team to set the organisation’s vision and strategic aims, meeting regularly and supporting the organisation at meetings, events and of course, cricket matches.
Lincolnshire Cricket are keen to recruit directors who have specifc skills, as well as a good understanding of the challenges facing sports participants in Lincolnshire. For more information on the role of a Director with Lincolnshire Cricket, click here.
A short bio of each of our Directors is included below:
Chair – Tony McArdle OBE
Tony was a Local Authority Chief Executive for over twenty years including twelve years at Lincolnshire County Council.
He currently leads government-appointed intervention teams charged with securing the recovery of Councils that have found themselves in serious governance and financial difficulties. This has included Northamptonshire County Council, Nottingham City Council and Birmingham City Council. He also chaired the Improvement Panel for the London Borough of Croydon.
Tony has also served as a Chief Advisor to the Department for Education and during the Covid pandemic he managed the interface between national and local government outbreak response arrangements as Director of Local Engagement and Response at the UK Health Security Agency (formerly NHS Test and Trace).
Tony has chaired the Association of County Chief Executives and the body responsible for PREVENT interventions in the East Midlands. He also served as an officer in the Army Reserve for over 20 years.
Nick Bennett
As a lifelong cricket enthusiast and former player in the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League for Alford and Woodhall Spa, joining the board of Lincolnshire Cricket as a director feels like a natural evolution of my passion for the game. At 34, running my own digital marketing agency, has equipped me with skills in strategy, communication, and innovation that I now channel into supporting the growth of cricket across our county.
What I enjoy most about being a director is the opportunity to give back to a sport that’s played a part in shaping my life and brought me lifelong friendships—many forged on those sunny Saturdays watching Woodhall Spa CC. Cricket isn’t just a game; it’s a community builder, teaching resilience, teamwork, and FUN. I’m particularly excited about initiatives like All Stars Cricket, which I’ll soon experience firsthand as my own children get involved.
In this role, I love collaborating with fellow board members and stakeholders to make the sport more accessible, inclusive, and thriving—from grassroots programs to elite pathways. It’s rewarding to blend my professional expertise with my personal love for cricket, ensuring Lincolnshire remains a vibrant hub for players, families, and fans alike. Here’s to many more innings ahead!
Shelley Clayton
Shelley has been involved with cricket for many years now. With her father playing for the local club at Market Rasen she went along to watch and was asked to score as the regular scorer did not attend one day……..and she was hooked! Shelley loves being part of a team, and also the support that cricket as a sport gives everyone involved. Becoming more involved at Market Rasen CC and having passed the Scorer exam, Shelley started scoring for the league representative side for Lincolnshire & South Humberside Cricket Association, once travelling to Dundee for a match against Scotland. Shelley has also played cricket, and has played indoor cricket in both men’s and women’s competitions.
Years later Shelley was asked if she could help by filling in for Lincolnshire County Cricket Club and became their reserve, then main scorer, and has been doing this for over 25 years now. Shelley was elected to the committee, and became a Vice-President and Senior VP before being honoured with the role of County President. With the merger between Lincolnshire Cricket and the County Club, Shelley was invited to join the Board of Directors.
Shelley admits to having worn many hats, at present on the Premier League committee and the ACO committee as County Scorer Officer, as well as continuing involvement with Lincolnshire Cricket, and her love of cricket will continue to be a major part of her life for many more years.
Andy Kneen OBE
Andy completed a 20-year career in the energy industry. During this time, he held multiple global HR leadership roles, across different locations, with a focus on business partnering, talent management and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI).
Andy is pursuing a ‘portfolio’ career based around making a positive impact for others to help them achieve their potential. He aspires to do this through leveraging his strengths – such as relationships, thought leadership, business acumen, ‘getting things done’ and ability to inspire others.
Andy was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Lincolnshire Cricket in 2022 and has board responsibility for EDI and Safeguarding. He is passionate about breaking down barriers, making cricket the most inclusive sport, and enhancing participation across all areas of the recreational game. In addition to his Lincolnshire role, Andy acts as a member of the ECB`s Recreational Game Committee and helps to shape the priorities at a national level.
Andy is a Trustee for the Snowdon Trust and is a committed to promoting and enhancing disability inclusion, both within sport, across industries and wider society.
As a recent addition to the board, he appreciates how new voices and different perspectives are not only welcomed but immediately contribute towards shaping the direction and making impactful decisions.
Lorna Leach
Lorna’s career has always centred around community impact, with sport as the catalyst for change. From developing inclusive programmes in local authority sports development to shaping strategic partnerships and leading systemic change, she has witnessed how sport creates opportunities and connects communities. Currently, at Tigers Trust, she leads an organisation that breaks down barriers and builds belonging through the power of our badge, just like Lincolnshire Cricket.
Although her professional roots lie in sport, Lorna brings cross-sector insight from an 18-month stint at Macmillan Cancer Research. That experience deepened her belief that empathy and equity should drive decision-making—on and off the pitch.
Joining the Lincolnshire Cricket Board felt like a natural step for Lorna. She saw a chance to contribute not only her knowledge of women’s sport and relationship building, but also her commitment to inclusive leadership. Cricket itself wasn’t the draw—it was the shared belief that sport should be for everyone. Lorna stepped forward because she had the curiosity, and the courage to ask good questions and take responsibility for supporting change. And that’s all it really takes.
Lorna believes that women bring invaluable perspectives to boards—but too often wait to feel “ready” or a 100% match to the job description. Lorna is glad she didn’t wait, and considers this role isn’t about being perfect, but instead about passion, purpose, and the decision to show up.
Sarah Poulter
Sarah is CEO of the CIWM Group, encompassing CIWM, WAMITAB, and the Circular Economy Institute. An award-winning Chief Executive with over 20 years’ executive experience, she leads with pace, ambition, and measurable impact, driving growth, innovation, and global expansion.
Since her appointment in 2019, Sarah has delivered the successful transformation of CIWM, building a financially resilient, high-performing organisation with a strong and influential public profile. Her leadership has modernised governance, diversified income streams, accelerated member and revenue growth, and delivered major organisational change.
A passionate advocate for sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion, and employee development, Sarah is recognised for building inclusive, values-led organisations that deliver long-term impact. Winner of the Memcom CEO Leadership Award 2025, she is an Honorary Fellow of CIWM and has been named to the Women in Trade Associations Powerlist for three consecutive years. Alongside her executive career, Sarah holds a number of non-executive and trustee roles within the voluntary and not-for-profit sector.
Sarah has a passion for Cricket and is currently the Head of Fundraising and Head of the Academy at Moulton Harrox Cricket Club where her two boys play.
Jess Skill
Jess has over eight years’ experience in the Higher Education sector leading charitable services, student engagement, and sport participation programmes. She oversees a diverse and high impact portfolio including student sport, student representation, volunteer development, and the delivery of student advice and wellbeing support.
She has significant experience in charity governance, ensuring that policies, procedures, and operational practices meet regulatory requirements and uphold the organisation’s charitable purpose. Her work also includes contributing to fundraising governance, monitoring income generating activity and ensuring that funds are managed responsibly to deliver maximum benefit for students.
Jess is a strong advocate for inclusion and community building, she is passionate about widening access to sport and creating environments where every student feels able to participate and grow. She believes deeply in the positive impact sport can have on confidence, wellbeing, and personal development.
Beyond her role, she is committed to giving back through volunteering at major sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games, and continues to champion the transformative value of sport at all levels.
Dipan Suwarneraj
Dipan has been closely involved with Lincolnshire County Cricket Club for more than a decade, having organised a number of overseas tours for the county before joining the Board as a Non-Executive Director. Over the years, he has been a strong supporter of the county and greatly values the work undertaken by the county in promoting cricket across local communities. Dipan considers it rewarding to see the progress achieved in developing young players through the county pathway, many of whom have risen through the ranks to higher levels of the game.
Dipan’s passion for grassroots cricket has also led him to take on the role of Chairman and Coach at Moulton Harrox Cricket Club, where he continues to support youth development and encourage greater participation in the sport at all levels.
Outside of cricket, Dipan manages several businesses within the leisure, sport and hospitality sectors, and is also the founder of the PRANAV Foundation. The charity focuses on education, youth projects and community sport, with a commitment to creating opportunities for young people to flourish both on and off the field.
Across his various roles, Dipan’s focus remains consistent: to help young people thrive, strengthen local communities, and use cricket as a positive force for change.
Steve Tointon
Having been born and educated in Lincolnshire, a business career of almost 40 years involved Steve qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and subsequently reaching the level of being a director and co-owner of a prominent Chartered Accountancy practice, predominantly based in Lincoln a role he retired from in 2017. Steve has a lifelong passion for sport, playing golf and hockey, but watching various sports at all levels. This led him in 2015 to begin representing a fans group on the board of Lincoln City Football Club, and at the end of that term he took the opportunity to remain on the Board as a Director and investor in my own right. Steve was a long-term member of the Audit and Risk Committee at the Club but stepped back from being a Director in August 2025 having completed 10 years in the role. In relation to football he remains the Treasurer of the Red Imps Community Trust as well as the Lincoln City Former Players Association.
Whilst in business Steve’s company became involved as main sponsors of Lincolnshire County Cricket First XI and in 2020 he was approached by the then Chairman to become the Finance Director on the County Board. This has allowed him to continue his passion of watching sport but at the same time helping support behind the scenes, especially in areas connected with his business background. Steve would recommend anybody with an interest in helping grassroots sport to get involved, the level of commitment can be as much as you want it to be, Steve is convinced the professionalism of those involved will impress anybody who sees it close up and the rewards of being involved are many fold.
Martyn Dobson – Chief Executive and Ex-Officio Director
Clare Gilman-Abel – Company Secretary